Mr. Nazeem Ebrahim, marketing director of Oasis, announced that his company will sponsor the Super 14 and Currie Cup champions for five more years, indicating that the team’s current success made the decision an easy one.

“We are based in Cape Town, but as an international brand, we are keen and pleased to be associated with the Bulls, who are internationally recognized for their excellence and achievement,” Ebrahim said.

“We have selected the right brand in South Africa. The team has won everything and we want to associate ourselves with another winning brand in South Africa. We are in for the long haul,” Ebrahim said.

The deal will give Oasis branding rights on the shirt and shorts of the team and the Loftus Versfeld arena.

Blue Bulls Company’s CEO, Barend van Graan, welcomed the sponsorship and agreed that shared values made the decision an easy one.

“We also have definite goals. We want the Bulls to be a global sporting brand and Loftus Versfeld to be a world class venue for sport and entertainment. This sponsorship will help us towards that,” Van Graan said.

Both agreed to the transformation ideals in sport and the fact that a recent poll from BMI showed the Bulls to have 2.7 million (of which 64% black) supporters.

Talking on behalf of the players, Bulls hooker, Chiliboy Ralepelle, thanked Oasis for their continued support.

“It is sponsors like you that help with the transformation in the sport and rugby in general,” he said.

Akona Ndungane, Bakkies Botha and Pierre Spies were other notable attendees at the launch.